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Minecraft Totem of Undying Guide: How to Get and Use It

Defeat an evoker to get a Totem of Undying, then hold it in a hand slot for a one-use rescue from otherwise fatal damage—with important exceptions.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To get a Totem of Undying in Minecraft, defeat an evoker. To use it, hold it in either hand—Mojang recommends the off-hand—before taking otherwise fatal damage. The totem is consumed when it saves you, and it cannot prevent every kind of death.

How to get a Totem of Undying

Defeat an evoker to obtain a Totem of Undying, according to Mojang’s item guide. Evokers can be found in woodland mansions and during raids. Mojang notes that mansion evokers appear on upper floors.

Evokers are dangerous opponents: they cast spells that summon fangs and vexes. Prepare for the encounter rather than assuming a totem will make it safe. The totem protects its holder only if it is already held when fatal damage occurs.

How to use a Totem of Undying

  1. Move the totem into a hand slot before entering a dangerous situation. It will not protect you while it sits in an unselected hotbar slot.
  2. For the usual setup, place it in your off-hand. Mojang identifies the off-hand as the recommended way to carry it for protection.
  3. If damage would otherwise kill you, the totem activates automatically. You do not need to select or trigger it at that moment.

It is single-use: after activating, the totem is consumed. Carry another one if you want the same protection after the first activation.

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#1 Best Overall
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
  • Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
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  • Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
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What happens when it activates

The totem prevents the fatal hit from killing you and grants Regeneration II, Fire Resistance, and Absorption II. Mojang’s item guide does not specify effect durations, so those timings should not be assumed across editions or versions.

What a Totem of Undying cannot prevent

Mojang explicitly says a totem will not save you from falling into the void or from a /kill command. Other edge cases may vary by edition or game version; check the mechanics for the edition you play before relying on it in unusual situations.

Rank #2
Minecraft: Switch Edition
  • Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
  • Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Totem or shield in the off-hand?

You cannot hold a shield and a totem in the off-hand at the same time. The choice is situational:

  • Choose the totem when avoiding one otherwise fatal mistake matters more than having a shield ready.
  • Choose the shield when you expect to block incoming attacks and are confident you can avoid fatal damage without the totem’s one-use rescue.

A totem is a backup, not a substitute for preparation. That matters especially when fighting evokers, whose spells can add pressure from fangs and vexes.

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Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures; Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
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Minecraft | Standard Edition | XBOX Digital Code
  • CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
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